MCS/rank adjustment when multiplexing data in a control region

ABSTRACT

A base station may make more efficient use of resources by transmitting data in a control region of a slot in addition to a data region. In order to avoid performance loss, the base station may adjust the data transmission in the control region in comparison to a data transmission in a data region and may signal an indication to a UE to assist the UE in receiving the data transmission in the control region. An apparatus for wireless communication at the UE receives the indication from the base station regarding the data transmission in the control region and uses the indication to perform rate matching or demodulation of the data transmission in the control region. The indication may indicate any of a different MCS/rank/TPR, a reduced MCS/rank/TPR, an MCS/rank/TPR delta, a control span for a group of UEs, and a starting symbol for the data transmission. The indication may also indicate that there is no data transmitted on resources in the control region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/473,267, entitled “MCS/RANK ADJUSTMENT WHEN MULTIPLEXING DATA INA CONTROL REGION” and filed on Mar. 17, 2017, which is expresslyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, andmore particularly, to the transmission and reception of data in acontrol region.

Background

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustelecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging,and broadcasts. Typical wireless communication systems may employmultiple-access technologies capable of supporting communication withmultiple users by sharing available system resources. Examples of suchmultiple-access technologies include code division multiple access(CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequencydivision multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency divisionmultiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and time division synchronous codedivision multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems.

These multiple access technologies have been adopted in varioustelecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enablesdifferent wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national,regional, and even global level. An example telecommunication standardis 5G New Radio (NR). 5G NR is part of a continuous mobile broadbandevolution promulgated by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) tomeet new requirements associated with latency, reliability, security,scalability (e.g., with Internet of Things (IoT)), and otherrequirements. Some aspects of 5G NR may be based on the 4G Long TermEvolution (LTE) standard. There exists a need for further improvementsin 5G NR technology. These improvements may also be applicable to othermulti-access technologies and the telecommunication standards thatemploy these technologies.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects inorder to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary isnot an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intendedto neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nordelineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is topresent some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

A control region in 5G/NR, e.g., spanning first few Orthogonalfrequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, may be split intosub-bands called resource sets. For example, the control region may spana designated set of symbols within a slot. When only a subset of theresource sets in the control region are utilized for control channeltransmissions, e.g., Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH)transmission, of the remaining resource sets are unused. These unusedresource sets in the control region could be used for datatransmissions, e.g., Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH).Similarly, resources of an uplink control region that are not used forcontrol transmissions may be used for data transmissions, e.g., PhysicalUplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmissions. However, performance may beimpacted when data, such as PDSCH or PUSCH, is transmitted in thecontrol region. For example, using a same modulation and coding scheme(MCS) for data transmitted in the control as for data transmitted in adata region may impact performance. Additionally, due to analogbeamforming (BF) constraints, a user equipment (UE) might be forced touse a control beam to receive the data, which may lead to performanceloss. Furthermore, an interference profile in the control region, e.g.,the first few OFDM symbols, may be different from an interferenceprofile in a data region. Therefore, there is a need to improve datatransmission, e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH performance, when data is transmitted inresources of a control region.

In order to avoid performance loss, a base station may adjust the datatransmission in the control region in comparison to a data transmissionin a data region. For example, the base station may transmit PDSCH in acontrol region using a different MCS, a different rank, or a differentTraffic-to-pilot Ratio (TPR) than the base station uses to transmitPDSCH in a data region. A different MCS may include a differentmodulation, e.g., 16QAM for a data transmission in a control regionrather than the 64 QZM used for a data transmission in a data region. Adifferent MCS may also include a different coding rate, e.g., a codingrate of ½ code for a data transmission in a control region rather thanthe ⅔ coding rate used for a data transmission in a data region. Thebase station may provide information to the UE regarding such datatransmissions in the control region. The UE may use the information toperform rate matching or demodulation of the data transmission.Similarly, the base station may provide information to the UE that theUE may use to adjust MCS/rank/TPR for transmitting a PUSCH in a controlregion.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium,and an apparatus are provided for wireless communication at a UE. Theapparatus receives communication from a base station in a control regionand a data region of a slot. The UE receives an indication from the basestation regarding a data transmission in the control region. The datatransmission in the control region overlaps a control transmission intime, and the indication indicates a different MCS, a different rank,and/or a different TPR for the data transmission in the control regionthan for data transmitted in a data region. The indication may compriseany of a reduced MCS, a reduced rank, an MCS delta, a different TPR, aTPR delta, a rank delta, an indication that no data is transmitted inthe control region, a control span for a group of UEs, and a startingsymbol for the data transmission. The apparatus may use the indicationto perform rate matching or demodulation of the data transmission.

The indication may be received as any of Radio Resource Control (RRC)signaling, a Medium Access Control (MAC) control element, or downlinkcontrol information (DCI).

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readablemedium, and an apparatus are provided for wireless communication at abase station. The apparatus transmits communication to a UE a controlregion and a data region and transmits an indication to the UE regardinga data transmission in the control region. The data transmission in thecontrol region may overlap a control transmission in time, and theindication may indicate a different MCS, a different rank, and/or adifferent TPR for the data transmission in the control region than theMCS/rank for data transmitted in a data region. The indication maycomprise any of a reduced MCS, a reduced rank, an MCS delta, a differentTPR, a TPR delta, a rank delta, an indication that no data istransmitted in the control region, a control span for a group of UEs,and a starting symbol for the data transmission. The apparatus may usethe indication to perform rate matching or demodulation of the datatransmission. The indication may be received as any of RRC signaling, aMAC control element, or DCI.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or moreaspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative featuresof the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, ofbut a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspectsmay be employed, and this description is intended to include all suchaspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communicationssystem and an access network.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are diagrams illustrating examples of a DLframe structure, DL channels within the DL frame structure, an UL framestructure, and UL channels within the UL frame structure, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a base station and userequipment (UE) in an access network.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a base station in communication with aUE.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example slot structure comprising DLcentric slots and UL centric slots.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating and example signal flow between a basestation and a UE.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating and example signal flow between a basestation and a UE.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual data flow diagram illustrating the data flowbetween different means/components in an exemplary apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus employing a processing system.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual data flow diagram illustrating the data flowbetween different means/components in an exemplary apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus employing a processing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations and isnot intended to represent the only configurations in which the conceptsdescribed herein may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that these concepts may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well known structures and components areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Several aspects of telecommunication systems will now be presented withreference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methodswill be described in the following detailed description and illustratedin the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits,processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”).These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computersoftware, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements areimplemented as hardware or software depends upon the particularapplication and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or anycombination of elements may be implemented as a “processing system” thatincludes one or more processors. Examples of processors includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs),central processing units (CPUs), application processors, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors,systems on a chip (SoC), baseband processors, field programmable gatearrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gatedlogic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardwareconfigured to perform the various functionality described throughoutthis disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system mayexecute software. Software shall be construed broadly to meaninstructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code,programs, subprograms, software components, applications, softwareapplications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects,executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whetherreferred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardwaredescription language, or otherwise.

Accordingly, in one or more example embodiments, the functions describedmay be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software, the functions may be stored on or encoded asone or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.Computer-readable media includes computer storage media. Storage mediamay be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise arandom-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic diskstorage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of theaforementioned types of computer-readable media, or any other mediumthat can be used to store computer executable code in the form ofinstructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communicationssystem and an access network 100. The wireless communications system(also referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) includes basestations 102, UEs 104, and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 160. The basestations 102 may include macro cells (high power cellular base station)and/or small cells (low power cellular base station). The macro cellsinclude base stations. The small cells include femtocells, picocells,and microcells.

The base stations 102 (collectively referred to as Evolved UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network(E-UTRAN)) interface with the EPC 160 through backhaul links 132 (e.g.,S1 interface). In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 mayperform one or more of the following functions: transfer of user data,radio channel ciphering and deciphering, integrity protection, headercompression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dualconnectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setupand release, load balancing, distribution for non-access stratum (NAS)messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, radio access network(RAN) sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriberand equipment trace, RAN information management (RIM), paging,positioning, and delivery of warning messages. The base stations 102 maycommunicate directly or indirectly (e.g., through the EPC 160) with eachother over backhaul links 134 (e.g., X2 interface). The backhaul links134 may be wired or wireless.

The base stations 102 may wirelessly communicate with the UEs 104. Eachof the base stations 102 may provide communication coverage for arespective geographic coverage area 110. There may be overlappinggeographic coverage areas 110. For example, the small cell 102′ may havea coverage area 110′ that overlaps the coverage area 110 of one or moremacro base stations 102. A network that includes both small cell andmacro cells may be known as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneousnetwork may also include Home Evolved Node Bs (eNBs) (HeNBs), which mayprovide service to a restricted group known as a closed subscriber group(CSG). The communication links 120 between the base stations 102 and theUEs 104 may include uplink (UL) (also referred to as reverse link)transmissions from a UE 104 to a base station 102 and/or downlink (DL)(also referred to as forward link) transmissions from a base station 102to a UE 104. The communication links 120 may use multiple-input andmultiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, including spatialmultiplexing, beamforming, and/or transmit diversity. The communicationlinks may be through one or more carriers. The base stations 102/UEs 104may use spectrum up to Y MHz (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100 MHz) bandwidthper carrier allocated in a carrier aggregation of up to a total of YxMHz (x component carriers) used for transmission in each direction. Thecarriers may or may not be adjacent to each other. Allocation ofcarriers may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL (e.g., more or lesscarriers may be allocated for DL than for UL). The component carriersmay include a primary component carrier and one or more secondarycomponent carriers. A primary component carrier may be referred to as aprimary cell (PCell) and a secondary component carrier may be referredto as a secondary cell (SCell).

Certain UEs 104 may communicate with each other using device-to-device(D2D) communication link 192. The D2D communication link 192 may use theDL/UL WWAN spectrum. The D2D communication link 192 may use one or moresidelink channels, such as a physical sidelink broadcast channel(PSBCH), a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physicalsidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and a physical sidelink control channel(PSCCH). D2D communication may be through a variety of wireless D2Dcommunications systems, such as for example, FlashLinQ, WiMedia,Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, LTE, or NR.

The wireless communications system may further include a Wi-Fi accesspoint (AP) 150 in communication with Wi-Fi stations (STAs) 152 viacommunication links 154 in a 5 GHz unlicensed frequency spectrum. Whencommunicating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the STAs 152/AP 150may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) prior to communicating inorder to determine whether the channel is available.

The small cell 102′ may operate in a licensed and/or an unlicensedfrequency spectrum. When operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum,the small cell 102′ may employ 5G/NR and use the same 5 GHz unlicensedfrequency spectrum as used by the Wi-Fi AP 150. The small cell 102′,employing 5G/NR in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, may boost coverageto and/or increase capacity of the access network.

The gNodeB (gNB) 180 may operate in millimeter wave (mmW) frequenciesand/or near mmW frequencies in communication with the UE 104. When thegNB 180 operates in mmW or near mmW frequencies, the gNB 180 may bereferred to as an mmW base station. Extremely high frequency (EHF) ispart of the RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range of 30GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters.Radio waves in the band may be referred to as a millimeter wave. NearmmW may extend down to a frequency of 3 GHz with a wavelength of 100millimeters. The super high frequency (SHF) band extends between 3 GHzand 30 GHz, also referred to as centimeter wave. Communications usingthe mmW/near mmW radio frequency band has extremely high path loss and ashort range. The mmW base station 180 may utilize beamforming 184 withthe UE 104 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and shortrange.

The EPC 160 may include a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 162, otherMMEs 164, a Serving Gateway 166, a Multimedia Broadcast MulticastService (MBMS) Gateway 168, a Broadcast Multicast Service Center (BM-SC)170, and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway 172. The MME 162 may be incommunication with a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 174. The MME 162 isthe control node that processes the signaling between the UEs 104 andthe EPC 160. Generally, the MME 162 provides bearer and connectionmanagement. All user Internet protocol (IP) packets are transferredthrough the Serving Gateway 166, which itself is connected to the PDNGateway 172. The PDN Gateway 172 provides UE IP address allocation aswell as other functions. The PDN Gateway 172 and the BM-SC 170 areconnected to the IP Services 176. The IP Services 176 may include theInternet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a PS StreamingService (PSS), and/or other IP services. The BM-SC 170 may providefunctions for MBMS user service provisioning and delivery. The BM-SC 170may serve as an entry point for content provider MBMS transmission, maybe used to authorize and initiate MBMS Bearer Services within a publicland mobile network (PLMN), and may be used to schedule MBMStransmissions. The MBMS Gateway 168 may be used to distribute MBMStraffic to the base stations 102 belonging to a Multicast BroadcastSingle Frequency Network (MBSFN) area broadcasting a particular service,and may be responsible for session management (start/stop) and forcollecting eMBMS related charging information.

The base station may also be referred to as a gNB, Node B, evolved NodeB (eNB), an access point, a base transceiver station, a radio basestation, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic serviceset (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), or some other suitableterminology. The base station 102 provides an access point to the EPC160 for a UE 104. Examples of UEs 104 include a cellular phone, a smartphone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system,a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3player), a camera, a game console, a tablet, a smart device, a wearabledevice, a vehicle, an electric meter, a gas pump, a toaster, or anyother similar functioning device. Some of the UEs 104 may be referred toas IoT devices (e.g., parking meter, gas pump, toaster, vehicles, etc.).The UE 104 may also be referred to as a station, a mobile station, asubscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, aremote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wirelesscommunications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, anaccess terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remoteterminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or someother suitable terminology.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in certain aspects, the UE 104 may beconfigured to receive data transmissions in a control region of a slot.The UE 104 may comprise an indication component 198 configured toreceive an indication from a base station regarding the datatransmission in the control region. Similarly, the base station 102 maycomprise a corresponding indication component configured to provide theindication to the UE. The indication may provide the UE with informationregarding a different MCS/rank used for the data transmission comparedto a data transmission in a data region of the slot, among otherinformation.

FIG. 2A is a diagram 200 illustrating an example of a DL framestructure. FIG. 2B is a diagram 230 illustrating an example of channelswithin the DL frame structure. FIG. 2C is a diagram 250 illustrating anexample of an UL frame structure. FIG. 2D is a diagram 280 illustratingan example of channels within the UL frame structure. Other wirelesscommunication technologies may have a different frame structure and/ordifferent channels. For example, aspects of the frame structure may beemployed for a 5G/NR frame structure. The 5G/NR frame structure may beFDD in which for a particular set of subcarriers (carrier systembandwidth), subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicated foreither DL or UL, or may be TDD in which for a particular set ofsubcarriers (carrier system bandwidth), subframes within the set ofsubcarriers are dedicated for both DL and UL. In the examples providedby FIGS. 2A, 2C, the 5G/NR frame structure is assumed to be TDD, withsubframe 4 a DL subframe and subframe 7 an UL subframe. While subframe 4is illustrated as providing just DL and subframe 7 is illustrated asproviding just UL, any particular subframe may be split into differentsubsets that provide both UL and DL. Note that the description infraapplies also to a 5G/NR frame structure that is FDD.

A frame (10 ms) may be divided into 10 equally sized subframes. Eachsubframe may include two consecutive time slots. A resource grid may beused to represent the two time slots, each time slot including one ormore time concurrent resource blocks (RBs) (also referred to as physicalRBs (PRBs)). The resource grid is divided into multiple resourceelements (REs). For a normal cyclic prefix, an RB contains 12consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and 7 consecutivesymbols (for DL, OFDM symbols; for UL, SC-FDMA symbols) in the timedomain, for a total of 84 REs. For an extended cyclic prefix, an RBcontains 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and 6consecutive symbols in the time domain, for a total of 72 REs. Thenumber of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, some of the REs carry DL reference (pilot)signals (DL-RS) for channel estimation at the UE. The DL-RS may includecell-specific reference signals (CRS) (also sometimes called common RS),UE-specific reference signals (UE-RS), and channel state informationreference signals (CSI-RS). FIG. 2A illustrates CRS for antenna ports 0,1, 2, and 3 (indicated as R₀, R₁, R₂, and R₃, respectively), UE-RS forantenna port 5 (indicated as R5), and CSI-RS for antenna port 15(indicated as R). FIG. 2B illustrates an example of various channelswithin a DL subframe of a frame. The physical control format indicatorchannel (PCFICH) is within symbol 0 of slot 0, and carries a controlformat indicator (CFI) that indicates whether the physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) occupies 1, 2, or 3 symbols (FIG. 2B illustratesa PDCCH that occupies 3 symbols). The PDCCH carries downlink controlinformation (DCI) within one or more control channel elements (CCEs),each CCE including nine RE groups (REGs), each REG including fourconsecutive REs in an OFDM symbol. A UE may be configured with aUE-specific enhanced PDCCH (ePDCCH) that also carries DCI. The ePDCCHmay have 2, 4, or 8 RB pairs (FIG. 2B shows two RB pairs, each subsetincluding one RB pair). The physical hybrid automatic repeat request(ARQ) (HARQ) indicator channel (PHICH) is also within symbol 0 of slot 0and carries the HARQ indicator (HI) that indicates HARQ acknowledgement(ACK)/negative ACK (NACK) feedback based on the physical uplink sharedchannel (PUSCH). The primary synchronization channel (PSCH) may bewithin symbol 6 of slot 0 within subframes 0 and 5 of a frame. The PSCHcarries a primary synchronization signal (PSS) that is used by a UE todetermine subframe/symbol timing and a physical layer identity. Thesecondary synchronization channel (SSCH) may be within symbol 5 of slot0 within subframes 0 and 5 of a frame. The SSCH carries a secondarysynchronization signal (SSS) that is used by a UE to determine aphysical layer cell identity group number and radio frame timing. Basedon the physical layer identity and the physical layer cell identitygroup number, the UE can determine a physical cell identifier (PCI).Based on the PCI, the UE can determine the locations of theaforementioned DL-RS. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH), whichcarries a master information block (MIB), may be logically grouped withthe PSCH and SSCH to form a synchronization signal (SS) block. The MIBprovides a number of RBs in the DL system bandwidth, a PHICHconfiguration, and a system frame number (SFN). The physical downlinkshared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system informationnot transmitted through the PBCH such as system information blocks(SIBs), and paging messages.

As illustrated in FIG. 2C, some of the REs carry demodulation referencesignals (DM-RS) for channel estimation at the base station. The UE mayadditionally transmit sounding reference signals (SRS) in the lastsymbol of a subframe. The SRS may have a comb structure, and a UE maytransmit SRS on one of the combs. The SRS may be used by a base stationfor channel quality estimation to enable frequency-dependent schedulingon the UL. FIG. 2D illustrates an example of various channels within anUL subframe of a frame. A physical random access channel (PRACH) may bewithin one or more subframes within a frame based on the PRACHconfiguration. The PRACH may include six consecutive RB pairs within asubframe. The PRACH allows the UE to perform initial system access andachieve UL synchronization. A physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)may be located on edges of the UL system bandwidth. The PUCCH carriesuplink control information (UCI), such as scheduling requests, a channelquality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a rankindicator (RI), and HARQ ACK/NACK feedback. The PUSCH carries data, andmay additionally be used to carry a buffer status report (BSR), a powerheadroom report (PHR), and/or UCI.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a base station 310 in communication with aUE 350 in an access network. In the DL, IP packets from the EPC 160 maybe provided to a controller/processor 375. The controller/processor 375implements layer 3 and layer 2 functionality. Layer 3 includes a radioresource control (RRC) layer, and layer 2 includes a packet dataconvergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, anda medium access control (MAC) layer. The controller/processor 375provides RRC layer functionality associated with broadcasting of systeminformation (e.g., MIB, SIBs), RRC connection control (e.g., RRCconnection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connectionmodification, and RRC connection release), inter radio access technology(RAT) mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurementreporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with headercompression/decompression, security (ciphering, deciphering, integrityprotection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLClayer functionality associated with the transfer of upper layer packetdata units (PDUs), error correction through ARQ, concatenation,segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs),re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; andMAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channelsand transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto transport blocks(TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling informationreporting, error correction through HARQ, priority handling, and logicalchannel prioritization.

The transmit (TX) processor 316 and the receive (RX) processor 370implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signalprocessing functions. Layer 1, which includes a physical (PHY) layer,may include error detection on the transport channels, forward errorcorrection (FEC) coding/decoding of the transport channels,interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto physical channels,modulation/demodulation of physical channels, and MIMO antennaprocessing. The TX processor 316 handles mapping to signalconstellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binaryphase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK),M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation(M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols may then be split intoparallel streams. Each stream may then be mapped to an OFDM subcarrier,multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., pilot) in the time and/orfrequency domain, and then combined together using an Inverse FastFourier Transform (IFFT) to produce a physical channel carrying a timedomain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM stream is spatially precoded toproduce multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channelestimator 374 may be used to determine the coding and modulation scheme,as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimate may be derivedfrom a reference signal and/or channel condition feedback transmitted bythe UE 350. Each spatial stream may then be provided to a differentantenna 320 via a separate transmitter 318TX. Each transmitter 318TX maymodulate an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream fortransmission.

At the UE 350, each receiver 354RX receives a signal through itsrespective antenna 352. Each receiver 354RX recovers informationmodulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to the receive(RX) processor 356. The TX processor 368 and the RX processor 356implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signalprocessing functions. The RX processor 356 may perform spatialprocessing on the information to recover any spatial streams destinedfor the UE 350. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 350,they may be combined by the RX processor 356 into a single OFDM symbolstream. The RX processor 356 then converts the OFDM symbol stream fromthe time-domain to the frequency domain using a Fast Fourier Transform(FFT). The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbolstream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on eachsubcarrier, and the reference signal, are recovered and demodulated bydetermining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted bythe base station 310. These soft decisions may be based on channelestimates computed by the channel estimator 358. The soft decisions arethen decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signalsthat were originally transmitted by the base station 310 on the physicalchannel. The data and control signals are then provided to thecontroller/processor 359, which implements layer 3 and layer 2functionality.

The controller/processor 359 can be associated with a memory 360 thatstores program codes and data. The memory 360 may be referred to as acomputer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller/processor 359provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packetreassembly, deciphering, header decompression, and control signalprocessing to recover IP packets from the EPC 160. Thecontroller/processor 359 is also responsible for error detection usingan ACK and/or NACK protocol to support HARQ operations.

Similar to the functionality described in connection with the DLtransmission by the base station 310, the controller/processor 359provides RRC layer functionality associated with system information(e.g., MIB, SIBs) acquisition, RRC connections, and measurementreporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with headercompression/decompression, and security (ciphering, deciphering,integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functionalityassociated with the transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correctionthrough ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs,re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; andMAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channelsand transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto TBs,demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting,error correction through HARQ, priority handling, and logical channelprioritization.

Channel estimates derived by a channel estimator 358 from a referencesignal or feedback transmitted by the base station 310 may be used bythe TX processor 368 to select the appropriate coding and modulationschemes, and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streamsgenerated by the TX processor 368 may be provided to different antenna352 via separate transmitters 354TX. Each transmitter 354TX may modulatean RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

The UL transmission is processed at the base station 310 in a mannersimilar to that described in connection with the receiver function atthe UE 350. Each receiver 318RX receives a signal through its respectiveantenna 320. Each receiver 318RX recovers information modulated onto anRF carrier and provides the information to a RX processor 370.

The controller/processor 375 can be associated with a memory 376 thatstores program codes and data. The memory 376 may be referred to as acomputer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller/processor 375provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packetreassembly, deciphering, header decompression, control signal processingto recover IP packets from the UE 350. IP packets from thecontroller/processor 375 may be provided to the EPC 160. Thecontroller/processor 375 is also responsible for error detection usingan ACK and/or NACK protocol to support HARQ operations.

FIG. 4 is a diagram 400 illustrating a base station 402 in communicationwith a UE 404. Referring to FIG. 4, when the UE 404 turns on, the UE 404searches for a nearby NR network. The UE 404 discovers the base station402, which belongs to an NR network. The base station 402 may transmitan SS block including the PSS, SSS, and the PBCH (including the MIB)periodically in different transmit directions 402 a-402 h. The UE 404receives the transmission 402 e including the PSS, SSS, and PBCH. Basedon the received SS block, the UE 404 synchronizes to the NR network andcamps on a cell associated with the base station 402. the base station402 may transmit a beamformed signal to the UE 404 in one or more of thedirections 402 a, 402 b, 402 c, 402 d, 402 e, 402 f, 402 g, 402 h. TheUE 404 may receive the beamformed signal from the base station 402 inone or more receive directions 404 a, 404 b, 404 c, 404 d. The UE 404may also transmit a beamformed signal to the base station 402 in one ormore of the directions 404 a-404 d. The base station 402 may receive thebeamformed signal from the UE 404 in one or more of the receivedirections 402 a-402 h. The base station 402/UE 404 may perform beamtraining to determine the best receive and transmit directions for eachof the base station 402/UE 404. The transmit and receive directions forthe base station 402 may or may not be the same. The transmit andreceive directions for the UE 404 may or may not be the same.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example slot structure comprising DL centric slotsand UL centric slots, which may be employed in 5G/NR wirelesscommunication. In 5G/NR, a slot may have, e.g., a duration of 0.5 ms,0.25 ms, etc., and each slot may have 7 or 14 symbols. A resource gridmay be used to represent the time slots, each time slot including one ormore time concurrent resource blocks (RBs) (also referred to as physicalRBs (PRBs)). The resource blocks for the resource grid may be furtherdivided into multiple resource elements (REs). The number of bitscarried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

A slot may be DL only or UL only, and may also be DL centric or ULcentric. FIG. 5 illustrates an example DL centric slot. The DL centricslot may comprise a DL control region 502, e.g., in which in whichphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is transmitted. Some of theREs of the DL centric slot may carry DL reference (pilot) signals(DL-RS) for channel estimation at the UE. The DL-RS may includecell-specific reference signals (CRS) (also sometimes called common RS),UE-specific reference signals (UE-RS), and channel state informationreference signals (CSI-RS).

A DL control region 502, 508 may span one or a few OFDM symbols, e.g.,at the beginning of the slot. The DL control region 502, 508 maycomprise multiple subbands, e.g., 520 a-j illustrated for DL controlregion 502. The subbands may also be referred to as a resource set.Thus, each subband 520 a-j may comprise a resource set that spans only aportion of the bandwidth of the control region 502 rather than theentire bandwidth of the control region. FIG. 5 illustrates the controlregion 502 having 10 subbands, e.g., 10 resource sets. This is only anexample, and any number of subbands/resource sets may be comprised inthe control region. Additionally, FIG. 5 illustrates thesubbands/resource sets 520 a-j having a similar size. However, in otherexamples, the sizes, in frequency, of the subbands/resource sets 520 a-jmay be different for different subbands/resource sets. DL control region508 may similarly comprise multiple subbands/resource sets. Thesubbands/resource sets for DL control region 502 of a DL centric slotmay be the same as for DL control region 508 of an UL centric slot. Inanother example, the subbands/resource sets may be different between theDL centric slot and the UL centric slot.

The separation of the control region 502, 508 into subbands/resourcesets enables a UE to monitor only a few resource sets/subbands ratherthan monitoring the entire bandwidth of the control region 502, 508.This provides power savings at the UE by allowing the UE to receivecontrol information while monitoring a reduced bandwidth.

A base station may use the resource sets of the control region 502, 508to transmit common control transmissions from the base station. Forexample, the base station may broadcast a physical broadcast channel(PBCH) that is cell specific and applies to multiple UEs. The PBCH maycarry a master information block (MIB). The MIB may carry informationsuch as the number of RBs in the DL system bandwidth and a system framenumber (SFN). A base station may also use the resource sets of thecontrol region 502, 508 to transmit UE specific control signaling, e.g.,via RRC, etc. The signaling may be specific to a single UE. Other UEsmight not be aware of the resources used to transmit UE specific controlsignaling. Thus, the resource sets may comprise at least one commonresource set, e.g., subband, used for common control transmissions andpossibly one or more UE specific resource set, e.g., subband, used forUE specific control transmissions.

At times, only a portion of the subbands/resource sets 520 a-j might beused for control transmissions. Aspects presented herein improve theefficient utilization of resources by enabling data transmission inunused resources of the DL control region 502, 508.

The DL centric slot may comprise a DL data region 504, e.g., in which aphysical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcastsystem information not transmitted through the PBCH such as systeminformation blocks (SIBs), and paging messages.

The DL centric slot may also comprise a common UL burst region (ULCB)506 in which UEs may send UL control channel information or other timesensitive or otherwise critical UL transmissions. This ULCB region mayalso be referred to as an UL control region 506.

The UL control region 506 of the DL centric slot, and similarly, the ULcontrol region 512 of the UL centric slot may be subdivided intosubbands/resource sets 522 a-522 j. FIG. 5 illustrates the UL controlregion 506, 512 having 10 subbands/resource sets. This is only anexample, and any number of subbands/resource sets may be comprised inthe control region. Additionally, FIG. 5 illustrates thesubbands/resource sets 522 a-j having a similar size. However, in otherexamples, different subbands/resource sets 522 a-j may have differentbandwidths. The subbands/resource sets for UL control region 506 of a DLcentric slot may be the same as for UL control region 512 of an ULcentric slot. In another example, the subbands may be different betweenthe UL centric slot and the DL centric slot. Additionally, in FIG. 5,the subbands/resource sets for the DL control regions 502, 508 and theUL control regions 506, 512, are illustrated as having the samesubbands. In other examples, different subbands/resource sets may beprovided for DL control regions 502, 508 than are provided for the ULcontrol regions 506, 512.

A UE may transmit physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), soundingreference signals (SRS), physical random access channel (PRACH), etc. inthe UL control regions 506, 512. The SRS may be used by a base stationfor channel quality estimation to enable frequency-dependent schedulingon the UL. The PRACH may be included within one or more slots within aslot structure based on the PRACH configuration. The PRACH allows the UEto perform initial system access and achieve UL synchronization. The ULcontrol region 506, 512 may comprise a PUCCH that carries uplink controlinformation (UCI), such as scheduling requests, a channel qualityindicator (CQI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a rank indicator(RI), and HARQ ACK/NACK feedback.

At times, only a portion of the subbands 522 a-j might be used forcontrol transmissions. Aspects presented herein improve the efficientutilization of resources by enabling data transmission in unusedresources of the UL control region 506, 512.

Similar to the DL centric slot, the UL centric slot may comprise a DLcontrol region 508, e.g., for PDCCH transmissions. The DL control region502, 508 may comprise a limited number of symbols at the beginning of aslot. The UL centric slot may comprise an UL data region 510, e.g., forthe transmission of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) thatcarries data, and may additionally be used to carry a buffer statusreport (BSR), a power headroom report (PHR), and/or UCI. The UL dataregion 510 may be referred to as a UL regular burst (ULRB) region.

The UL centric slot may comprise a guard band between the UL data region510 and the ULCB 512. For example, the guard band may be based on thebase station's capabilities and used to reduce interference when the ULdata region 510 and the ULCB have different numerologies (symbolperiods, slot lengths, etc.). The DL control region 502, 508 maycomprise a limited number of symbols at the beginning of a slot and theULCB region may comprise one or two symbols at the end of the slot, forboth the DL centric and the UL centric slots. Resource management ofPUSCH or PUCCH transmissions in the ULRB may be similar to that PUSCH orPUCCH for LTE. However, where LTE may be primarily driven by a SC-FDMwaveform, 5G/NR may be based on an SC-FDM or OFDM waveform in the ULRB510.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example diagram 600 of a call flow between a UE602 and a base station 604, e.g., in 5G/NR. Resources for communication,e.g., a slot as described in connection with FIG. 5, may be separatedinto a control region and a data region. Therefore, the base station 604may transmit a control transmission to UE 602 in the control region at618 and may transmit a data transmission in a data transmission at 620.In 5G/NR the Control Region, e.g., spanning first few OFDM symbols, maybe split into sub-bands called resource sets. The UE may monitor only afew resource sets instead of the entire BW. Thus, if only a few controlresource sets are utilized for PDCCH transmission, the control regionmay have empty resource elements that could be instead used for a datatransmission, e.g., PDSCH. Similarly, resource sets in an UL controlportion of a slot may be unused for PUCCH, and may be used instead forPUSCH. In FIG. 6, base station 604 transmits a data transmission to UE602 in a control region at 616. However, performance may be impactedwhen data such as PDSCH is transmitted in the control region. Forexample, using a same MCS for data transmitted in the control as fordata transmitted in a data region may impact performance. Additionally,due to analog BF constraints, a UE might be forced to use a control beamto receive the data, which may lead to performance loss. Furthermore, aninterference profile in the control region, e.g., the first few OFDMsymbols, may be different from an interference profile in a data region.Therefore, there is a need to improve data transmission, e.g., PDSCHperformance, when data is transmitted in a control region of a slot.

In order to avoid performance loss, a base station may adjust the datatransmission in the control region in comparison to data that the basestation transmits in a data region. For example, the base station maytransmit PDSCH in a control region using a different MCS and/or adifferent rank than the base station uses for PDSCH transmitted in adata region. The adjusted MCS/rank may comprise a reduced MCS/rank incomparison to the MCS/rank for data transmitted in a data region, in oneexample. The PDSCH transmission may also be transmitted at a higherpower in the control region than in the data region. Therefore, a TPRratio may also be signaled to the UE, at 611, in order to assist the UEin receiving the PDSCH. However, the base station may also use a higherMCS, in another example. A different MCS may include a differentmodulation, e.g., 16QAM for a data transmission in a control regionrather than the 64 QZM used for a data transmission in a data region. Adifferent MCS may also include a different coding rate, e.g., a codingrate of ½ code for a data transmission in a control region rather thanthe ⅔ coding rate used for a data transmission in a data region. Inanother example, Codebooks for the control region may have a differentcoding rate compared to coding books for the data region. Theseadjustments are merely examples of the adjustments that may be made tothe MCS/rank. The base station may signal to a UE the adjustment for thedata transmission in the control region in order to assist the UE inperforming rate matching or demodulation of the data transmission in thecontrol region. The base station may also indicate to the UE that nodata is transmitted in resources of the control region, e.g., at 613.Various information may be indicated to the UE 602, e.g., any of 608,610, 612, 613, 614, etc. The base station may signal anindication/information to the UE via RRC, a MAC CE, dynamically via DCI,etc.

The UE can utilize this signaled information from the base station toperform rate matching for the data received in a control region based onthe updated MCS/rank, in one example. In another example, the UE mayutilize the signaled information to perform demodulation of the datatransmission in the control region using the updated MCS/rank.

Although this example is described in connection with the transmissionof PDSCH along with PDCCH in a control region, the aspects presentedherein are also applicable to data transmissions within an uplinkcontrol region. For example, a UE may use an uplink control region totransmit PUSCH. The indications from the base station may provideinformation to the UE regarding the use of a different MCS/rank for thePUSCH transmission within the control region than for data transmittedin a data region. The adjustment to the MCS/rank for the PUSCH mayassist the base station in receiving PUCCH and PUSCH in the uplinkcontrol region.

The UE can also report additional CQI in the control region to the basestation, in addition to data region. The base station may use theadditional CQI reported in the control region to determine an adjustmentto the MCS/rank for the data transmission in the control region incomparison to data transmitted in the data region.

In 5G/NR a UE may receive a data transmission, e.g. PDSCH, on onereception beam and may receive a control transmission, e.g. PDCCH, on adifferent reception beam. Due to analog BF constraints, a UE might notbe able to change reception beams within an OFDM symbol. In one example,if the data transmission is transmitted in the control region, the UEmight choose to use the same reception beam that the UE uses to receivethe control transmission to receive the data transmission. This mightnot be optimal if there is no MCS reduction for the data transmission inthe control region, as there may be a beam mismatch. Therefore, the basestation may use a lower MCS/rank for the data transmission in thecontrol region compared to a data transmission in the data region. Thebase station may also signal the lower MCS/lower Rank, e.g., at 608, oran MCS/Rank delta, e.g., at 610, for the data transmission in thecontrol region to enable UE to decode the data transmission in thecontrol region. An MCS Delta, e.g., may indicate the difference betweenthe MCS for a data transmission in a data region and the MCS of a datatransmission in the control region. Similarly, a rank delta may indicatethe difference between the rank for a data transmission in a data regionand the rank of a data transmission in the control region. The benefitof signaling the MCS delta is that it may require a reduced number ofbits compared to indicating an full MCS for the data transmission in thecontrol region. The base station may similarly signal a TPR delta, e.g.,at 611, which may indicate a difference between a first TPR for a datatransmission in the data region and a second TPR for a data transmissionin the control region.

The UE may report CQI for data reception in the control region. The CQImay involve a measurement using a data reception beam in the controlregion and/or a measurement using a control beam in the control region.While reporting CQI, the UE can also signal its MCS/Rank delta to aidthe base station in determining an MCS/rank adjustment for the datatransmission in the control region. Alternately, the reduction inMCS/rank may be preconfigured whenever data is transmitted in thecontrol region. Thus, the UE may be aware of a reduced MCS/rank that isused whenever data is transmitted in the control region, or the UE maybe aware of a delta for the MCS/rank that is used whenever data istransmitted in the control region. For example, a delta number n may bepreconfigured so that an MCS for a data transmission in a control regionis always n less than an MCS used to transmit a data transmission in thedata region.

In another 5G/NR example, a UE may observe a different interferenceprofile in the control region in comparison to the interference profilein the data region. This difference in the interference profile mightnot be optimal for performance if there is no MCS reduction for a datatransmission in the control region. Therefore, similar to the exampleaddressing a beam mismatch, the base station may use a lower MCS/rankfor the data transmission in the control region compared to a datatransmission in the data region. The base station may also signal thelower MCS/lower Rank or an MCS/Rank delta for the data transmission inthe control region to enable UE to decode the data transmission in thecontrol region.

The UE may report CQI for data reception in the control region to thebase station, e.g., at 606, which may aid the base station indetermining an MCS/rank adjustment for the data transmission in thecontrol region. The CQI may involve a measurement using a data receptionbeam in the control region and/or a measurement using a control beam inthe control region. While reporting CQI, the UE can also signal itsMCS/Rank delta to aid the base station in determining an MCS/rankadjustment for the data transmission in the control region. Alternately,the reduction in MCS/rank may be preconfigured whenever data istransmitted in the control region. Thus, the UE may be aware of areduced MCS/rank that is used whenever data is transmitted in thecontrol region, or the UE may be aware of a delta for the MCS/rank thatis used whenever data is transmitted in the control region. For example,a delta number n may be preconfigured so that an MCS for a datatransmission in a control region is always n less than an MCS used totransmit a data transmission in the data region.

Control regions may differ for different UEs served by the base station.For example, a first UE may have a first OFDM symbol as a controlregion, whereas a second UE may have both a first OFDM symbol and asecond OFDM symbol for its control region. The MCS for a datatransmission to the first UE may be reduced in the second OFDM symbol,even though it is not the control region for the first UE, because it isthe control region for the second UE. Therefore, a control region mayspan all symbols that are configured as a control region for any one ofa group of UEs. A span of a control region may be referred to herein asa control span. The base station may indicate a control span for a groupof UEs to a first UE, e.g., at 612. The base station may also provideinformation regarding an MCS/rank adjustment for data transmissionswithin the control span. Then, the first UE may use the information toreceive data transmissions within the control span, even when the datatransmission is within a data region for the UE.

In another example, the UE may be aware of an adjusted MCS/rank for datatransmissions within a control region/control span. FIG. 7 illustratesan example signal flow diagram 700 between UE 602 and base station 604.The UE may use the indication regarding the control span at 612 todetermine when to apply an adjusted MCS/rank for a data transmission.For example, the MCS/rank reduction may comprise a predefined parameter.The UE may determine at 706, whether the data transmission overlaps thecontrol span. The UE may receive the data transmission at 708. When theUE determines that the data transmission overlaps the control span, theUE may apply the known MCS/rank reduction to receive the datatransmission at 710. When the UE determines that the data transmissiondoes not overlap the control span, the UE may use the regular MCS/rankto receive the data transmission at 712.

In another example, signaling may be used to enable different MCSoperations including a special case where no data is transmitted in thecontrol region. Thus, the base station may indicate to the UE thatresources in the control region do not include data. In the examplewhere the UE may is aware of an adjusted MCS/rank for data transmissionswithin a control region/control span, the base station may indicate tothe UE when there will not be any data transmissions within a controlregion.

In another example, the UE may determine a starting symbol of a datatransmission to determine whether the starting symbol is within acontrol region/control span. The determination may be based on signalingof a starting symbol from the base station, e.g., at 614. For example,the base station may signal a starting symbol for a data transmission tothe UE via DCI signaling. When the UE determines that the startingsymbol is within the control region/control span, the UE may apply areduced MCS/rank to receive the data transmission. The reduced MCS/rankmay be preconfigured or otherwise known by the UE or may be indicated tothe UE by the base station.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 of a method of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a UE (e.g., the UE 104, 350, 404, 602, 1250the apparatus 902/902′) communicating wirelessly with a base station(e.g., the base station 102, 180, 402, 604, 950, the apparatus 1202,1202′). At 804, the UE receives communication from a base station in acontrol region and a data region, e.g., a control region and a dataregion of a slot. The UE may also transmit communication to the basestation in the control region and the data region. At 806, the UEreceives an indication from the base station regarding a datatransmission in the control region. The data transmission in the controlregion overlaps a control transmission in time, and the indicationindicates a different MCS and/or a different rank for the datatransmission in the control region than for a data transmission in thedata region. The indication may relate to a data transmission from thebase station, e.g., PDSCH, or may relate to a data transmission from theUE, e.g., PUSCH. The indication may comprise a different MCS or adifferent rank for the data transmission in the control region, asdescribed in connection with 608 in FIG. 6. For example, the indicationmay comprise a reduced MCS/reduced rank than the MCS/rank for a datatransmission in the data region. The indication may comprise an MCSdifference, e.g., an MCS delta, for the data transmission in the controlregion in comparison to a second MCS for a second data transmission inthe data region, as described in connection with 610 in FIG. 6. Theindication may comprise a rank difference, e.g., a rank delta, for thedata transmission in the control region in comparison to a second rankfor a second data transmission in the data region, as described inconnection with 610 in FIG. 6. The indication may indicate that there isno data transmission in the control region. Thus, the base station mayindicate, e.g., in a downlink control message, that resources in thecontrol region do not include PDSCH The indication may comprise acontrol span for a group of multiple UEs, wherein the control spancomprises resources configured as the control region for any of themultiple UEs in the group, as described in connection with 612 in FIG.6. The UE may then use a reduced MCS parameter or a reduced rankparameter for the control span. The indication may be received as atleast one of RRC signaling, a MAC control element, or DCI.

At 802, the UE may report a CQI for receiving data in the controlregion. The base station may use the CQI report to determine an adjustedMCS/rank for the data transmission in the control region.

At 816, the UE may perform rate matching for the data transmission inthe control region using an updated MCS/updated rank based on theindication.

At 818, the UE may perform demodulation of the data transmission in thecontrol region using an updated MCS/updated rank based on theindication.

The UE may receive a control transmission on a first reception beam andreceives a second data transmission in the data region on a secondreception beam. In this example, at 808, the UE may receive the datatransmission in the control region on the first reception beam.

The indication may comprise a starting symbol for the data transmission,e.g., as described in connection with 614 in FIG. 6. In this example,the UE may determine whether the starting symbol is within the controlregion at 810. The UE may then use a reduced MCS or a reduced rank toreceive the data transmission at 812, when the starting symbol is withinthe control region and may use a second MCS for data transmission in thedata region at 814, when the starting symbol is within the data region.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual data flow diagram 900 illustrating the data flowbetween different means/components in an exemplary apparatus 902. Theapparatus may be a UE (e.g., the UE 104, 350, 404, 602, 1250)communicating wirelessly with a base station 950 (e.g., the base station102, 180, 402, 604, the apparatus 1202, 1202′). The apparatus includes areception component 904 that receives DL communication from base station950, including communication in a control region and a data region of aslot, and a transmission component 906 that transmits UL communicationto the base station 950.

The apparatus may include an indication component 910 that receives anindication from the base station 950 regarding a data transmission inthe control region, as described in connection with 806 in FIG. 8. Theindication may comprise a reduced MCS or a reduced rank for the datatransmission in the control region, as described in connection with 608in FIG. 6. The indication may comprise an MCS delta for the datatransmission in the control region in comparison to a second MCS for asecond data transmission in the data region, as described in connectionwith 610 in FIG. 6. The indication may comprise a rank delta for thedata transmission in the control region in comparison to a second rankfor a second data transmission in the data region, as described inconnection with 610 in FIG. 6. The indication may indicate that there isno data transmission in the control region. The indication may comprisea control span for a group of multiple UEs, wherein the control spancomprises resources configured as the control region for any of themultiple UEs in the group, as described in connection with 612 in FIG.6. The UE may then use a reduced MCS parameter or a reduced rankparameter for the control span. The indication may be received as atleast one of RRC signaling, a MAC control element, or DCI.

The apparatus may comprise a CQI component 908 configured to report achannel quality indication for receiving data in the control region tothe base station 950.

The apparatus may comprise a reception beam component 912 configured todetermine a reception beam to be used for receiving a data transmission,e.g., a data transmission in a control region. The determination may bebased on information from the indication component 910. For example, theUE may receive a control transmission on a first reception beam (e.g., acontrol reception beam) and may receive a second data transmission inthe data region on a second reception beam. While data transmissions maytypically be received using a different, data reception beam, the beamreception component may determine to receive the data transmission inthe control region on the first reception beam (e.g., the controlreception beam).

The apparatus may include an MCS/rank component 914 configured todetermine an MCS or rank for receiving a data transmission. Thedetermination may be based on whether the data transmission is receivedin a control region, which may include determining a control span anddetermining whether the data transmission starts within the controlspan. The determination may be further based on information receivedfrom the base station in the indication, including, a lower MCS, a lowerrank, an MCS A, a rank A, etc.

The apparatus may include a rate matching component 916 configured toperforming rate matching for the data transmission in the controlregion, e.g., using an updated MCS/rank based on the indication. Theapparatus may include a demodulation component 918 configured to performdemodulation of the data transmission in the control region using anupdated MCS/rank based on the indication.

In one example, the indication received indicates a starting symbol forthe data transmission. Thus, the apparatus may include a starting symbolcomponent 920 configured to determine whether the starting symbol iswithin the control region. The rate matching component 916 and/or thedemodulation component 918 may be configured to use a reduced MCS/rankto receive the data transmission, when the starting symbol is within thecontrol region and/or to use a second MCS for data transmission in thedata region, when the starting symbol is within the data region.

The apparatus may include additional components that perform each of theblocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned flowcharts of FIG. 6, 7,or 8. As such, each block in the aforementioned flowcharts of FIG. 6, 7,or 8 may be performed by a component and the apparatus may include oneor more of those components. The components may be one or more hardwarecomponents specifically configured to carry out the statedprocesses/algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to performthe stated processes/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable mediumfor implementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

FIG. 10 is a diagram 1000 illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus 902′ employing a processing system 1014.The processing system 1014 may be implemented with a bus architecture,represented generally by the bus 1024. The bus 1024 may include anynumber of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specificapplication of the processing system 1014 and the overall designconstraints. The bus 1024 links together various circuits including oneor more processors and/or hardware components, represented by theprocessor 1004, the components 904, 906, 908, 910, 912, 914, 916, 918,920, and the computer-readable medium/memory 1006. The bus 1024 may alsolink various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltageregulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in theart, and therefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system 1014 may be coupled to a transceiver 1010. Thetransceiver 1010 is coupled to one or more antennas 1020. Thetransceiver 1010 provides a means for communicating with various otherapparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver 1010 receives asignal from the one or more antennas 1020, extracts information from thereceived signal, and provides the extracted information to theprocessing system 1014, specifically the reception component 904. Inaddition, the transceiver 1010 receives information from the processingsystem 1014, specifically the transmission component 906, and based onthe received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one ormore antennas 1020. The processing system 1014 includes a processor 1004coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory 1006. The processor 1004 isresponsible for general processing, including the execution of softwarestored on the computer-readable medium/memory 1006. The software, whenexecuted by the processor 1004, causes the processing system 1014 toperform the various functions described supra for any particularapparatus. The computer-readable medium/memory 1006 may also be used forstoring data that is manipulated by the processor 1004 when executingsoftware. The processing system 1014 further includes at least one ofthe components 904, 906, 908, 910, 912, 914, 916, 918, 920. Thecomponents may be software components running in the processor 1004,resident/stored in the computer readable medium/memory 1006, one or morehardware components coupled to the processor 1004, or some combinationthereof. The processing system 1014 may be a component of the UE 350 andmay include the memory 360 and/or at least one of the TX processor 368,the RX processor 356, and the controller/processor 359.

In one configuration, the apparatus 902/902′ for wireless communicationincludes means for receiving communication from a base station in acontrol region and a data region of a slot (e.g., 904), means forreceiving an indication from the base station regarding a datatransmission in the control region (e.g., 910), means for reporting aCQI for receiving data in the control region (e.g., 908), means forperforming rate matching (e.g., 916), means for performing demodulationof the data transmission (e.g., 918), means for receiving the datatransmission in the control region on a control reception beam (904,912), and means for determining whether a starting symbol is within acontrol region (e.g., 920). The aforementioned means may be one or moreof the aforementioned components of the apparatus 902 and/or theprocessing system 1014 of the apparatus 902′ configured to perform thefunctions recited by the aforementioned means. As described supra, theprocessing system 1014 may include the TX Processor 368, the RXProcessor 356, and the controller/processor 359. As such, in oneconfiguration, the aforementioned means may be the TX Processor 368, theRX Processor 356, and the controller/processor 359 configured to performthe functions recited by the aforementioned means.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1100 of a method of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a base station (e.g., the base station 102,180, 402, 604, 950, the apparatus 1202, 1202′) communicating wirelesslywith a UE (e.g., the UE 104, 350, 404, 602, 1250 the apparatus902/902′). At 1106, the base station transmits communication to the UEin a control region and a data region, e.g., of a slot.

At 1108, the base station transmits an indication to the UE regarding adata transmission in the control region. The data transmission in thecontrol region overlaps a control transmission in time, and theindication indicates a different MCS and/or a different rank for thedata transmission in the control region than for a data transmission inthe data region. The indication may relate to a data transmission fromthe base station, e.g., PDSCH, or may relate to a data transmission fromthe UE, e.g., PUSCH. The indication may indicate a different MCS or adifferent rank for the data transmission in the control region. Forexample, the different MCS/rank may be a reduced MCS/rank. Theindication may indicate an MCS difference, e.g., an MCS delta, for theMCS for the data transmission in the control region in comparison to asecond MCS for a second data transmission in the data region, asdescribed in connection with 608 in FIG. 6. The indication may indicatea rank difference, e.g., a rank delta, for the data transmission in thecontrol region in comparison to a second rank for a second datatransmission in the data region, as described in connection with 610 inFIG. 6. The indication may indicate that there is no data transmissionin the control region. The indication may indicate a control span for agroup of multiple UEs, wherein the control span comprises resourcesconfigured as the control region for any of the multiple UEs in thegroup, e.g., as described in connection with 612 in FIG. 6. Theindication may indicate a starting symbol for the data transmission,e.g., as described in connection with 614 in FIG. 6. The indication maybe transmitted as at least one of RRC signaling, a MAC control element,or DCI. The indication may provide information to the UE for at leastone of rate matching for the data transmission in the control regionusing an updated MCS and demodulation of the data transmission in thecontrol region using the updated MCS.

The base station may optionally receive a channel quality indication forreceiving data in the control region from the UE at 1102, and maydetermine a reduced MCS or a reduced rank for the data transmission inthe control region at 1104 based on the received channel qualityindicator.

While the transmission at 1106 may occur after the indication istransmitted at 1108, at 1110, the base station may transmit a datatransmission to the UE in the control region of the slot according tothe indication at 1108.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual data flow diagram 1200 illustrating the dataflow between different means/components in an exemplary apparatus 1202.The apparatus may be a base station (e.g., the base station 102, 180,402, 604, 950) communicating wirelessly with a UE 1250 (e.g., the UE104, 350, 404, 602, the apparatus 902/902′) The apparatus includes areception component 1204 that receive UL communication from the UE 1250,and a transmission component 1206 that transmits DL communication to theUE 1250, including communication in a control region and a data regionof a slot. The apparatus may include an indication component 1212configured to transmit an indication to the UE regarding a datatransmission in the control region. The indication may comprise any ofthe information described in connection with 1108 of FIG. 11. Theapparatus may include a CQI component 1208 configured to receivereceiving a channel quality indication for receiving data in the controlregion from the UE. The apparatus may include an MCS/rank component 1210configured to determine a reduced MCS or a reduced rank for a datatransmission in the control region of the slot. The determination may bebased on the received channel quality indicator.

The transmission component 1206 may be configured to transmit a datatransmission to the UE 1250 in a control region of a slot using areduced MCS or a reduced rank, e.g., as determined in connection withany of 1208, 1210, 1212.

The apparatus may include additional components that perform each of theblocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned flowcharts of FIG. 6, 7,or 11. As such, each block in the aforementioned flowcharts of FIG. 6,7, or 11 may be performed by a component and the apparatus may includeone or more of those components. The components may be one or morehardware components specifically configured to carry out the statedprocesses/algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to performthe stated processes/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable mediumfor implementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

FIG. 13 is a diagram 1300 illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus 1202′ employing a processing system1314. The processing system 1314 may be implemented with a busarchitecture, represented generally by the bus 1324. The bus 1324 mayinclude any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on thespecific application of the processing system 1314 and the overalldesign constraints. The bus 1324 links together various circuitsincluding one or more processors and/or hardware components, representedby the processor 1304, the components 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212, andthe computer-readable medium/memory 1306. The bus 1324 may also linkvarious other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltageregulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in theart, and therefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system 1314 may be coupled to a transceiver 1310. Thetransceiver 1310 is coupled to one or more antennas 1320. Thetransceiver 1310 provides a means for communicating with various otherapparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver 1310 receives asignal from the one or more antennas 1320, extracts information from thereceived signal, and provides the extracted information to theprocessing system 1314, specifically the reception component 1204. Inaddition, the transceiver 1310 receives information from the processingsystem 1314, specifically the transmission component 1206, and based onthe received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one ormore antennas 1320. The processing system 1314 includes a processor 1304coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory 1306. The processor 1304 isresponsible for general processing, including the execution of softwarestored on the computer-readable medium/memory 1306. The software, whenexecuted by the processor 1304, causes the processing system 1314 toperform the various functions described supra for any particularapparatus. The computer-readable medium/memory 1306 may also be used forstoring data that is manipulated by the processor 1304 when executingsoftware. The processing system 1314 further includes at least one ofthe components 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212. The components may besoftware components running in the processor 1304, resident/stored inthe computer readable medium/memory 1306, one or more hardwarecomponents coupled to the processor 1304, or some combination thereof.The processing system 1314 may be a component of the base station 310and may include the memory 376 and/or at least one of the TX processor316, the RX processor 370, and the controller/processor 375.

In one configuration, the apparatus 1202/1202′ for wirelesscommunication includes means for transmitting communication to a UE in acontrol region and a data region of a slot (e.g., 1206), means fortransmitting an indication to the UE regarding a data transmission inthe control region (e.g., 1212), means for transmitting a datatransmission in the control region of the slot (e.g., 1206), e.g., usinga reduced MCS or a reduced rank, means for receiving a channel qualityindication for receiving data in the control region from the UE (e.g.,1208), and means for determining a reduced modulation and coding scheme(MCS) or a reduced rank for the data transmission in the control regionbased on the received channel quality indicator (e.g., 1210). Theaforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned componentsof the apparatus 1202 and/or the processing system 1314 of the apparatus1202′ configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementionedmeans. As described supra, the processing system 1314 may include the TXProcessor 316, the RX Processor 370, and the controller/processor 375.As such, in one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TXProcessor 316, the RX Processor 370, and the controller/processor 375configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in theprocesses/flowcharts disclosed is an illustration of exemplaryapproaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that thespecific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes/flowcharts may berearranged. Further, some blocks may be combined or omitted. Theaccompanying method claims present elements of the various blocks in asample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” The word “exemplary” is used hereinto mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspectdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as“at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least oneof A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or anycombination thereof” include any combination of A, B, and/or C, and mayinclude multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically,combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B,or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and“A, B, C, or any combination thereof” may be A only, B only, C only, Aand B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinationsmay contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C. All structuraland functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspectsdescribed throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to beknown to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporatedherein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims.Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to thepublic regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited inthe claims. The words “module,” “mechanism,” “element,” “device,” andthe like may not be a substitute for the word “means.” As such, no claimelement is to be construed as a means plus function unless the elementis expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of wireless communication at a userequipment (UE), comprising: receiving communication from a base stationin a control region and a data region of a slot; and receiving anindication from the base station regarding a data transmission in thecontrol region, wherein the data transmission in the control regionoverlaps a control transmission in time, and wherein the indicationindicates a different modulation and coding scheme (MCS) or a differentrank for the data transmission in the control region.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the indication indicates a reduced MCS or a reducedrank for the data transmission in the control region.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the indication indicates an MCS difference for the MCSfor the data transmission in the control region in comparison to asecond MCS for a second data transmission in the data region.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the indication indicates a Traffic-to-pilotRatio (TPR) difference for a first TPR for the data transmission in thecontrol region and a second TPR for a second data transmission in thedata region.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication indicatesa rank difference for the data transmission in the control region incomparison to a second rank for a second data transmission in the dataregion.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: reporting achannel quality indication for receiving data in the control region. 7.The method of claim 1, further comprising: performing rate matching forthe data transmission in the control region using an updated MCS or rankbased on the indication.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:performing demodulation of the data transmission in the control regionusing an updated MCS or rank based on the indication.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the indication is received as at least one of RadioResource Control (RRC) signaling, a Medium Access Control (MAC) controlelement, or downlink control information (DCI).
 10. The method of claim1, wherein the UE receives a control transmission on a first receptionbeam and receives a second data transmission in the data region on asecond reception beam, the method further comprising: receiving the datatransmission in the control region on the first reception beam.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the indication indicates that there is nodata transmission in the control region.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein the indication indicates a control span for a group of multipleUEs, wherein the control span comprises resources configured as thecontrol region for any of the multiple UEs in the group of multiple UEs.13. The method of claim 12, wherein the UE uses a reduced modulation andcoding scheme (MCS) parameter or a reduced rank parameter for thecontrol span.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicationindicates a starting symbol for the data transmission, the methodfurther comprising: determining whether the starting symbol is withinthe control region; using a reduced modulation and coding scheme (MCS)or a reduced rank to receive the data transmission, when the startingsymbol is within the control region; and using a second MCS for datatransmission in the data region, when the starting symbol is within thedata region.
 15. An apparatus for wireless communication at a userequipment (UE), comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupledto the memory and configured to: receive communication from a basestation in a control region and a data region of a slot; and receive anindication from the base station regarding a data transmission in thecontrol region, wherein the data transmission in the control regionoverlaps a control transmission in time, and wherein the indicationindicates a different modulation and coding scheme (MCS) or a differentrank for the data transmission in the control region.
 16. The apparatusof claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configuredto: report a channel quality indication for receiving data in thecontrol region.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: perform rate matching for the datatransmission in the control region using an updated MCS or rank based onthe indication.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: perform demodulation of the datatransmission in the control region using an updated MCS or rank based onthe indication.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatusreceives a control transmission on a first reception beam and receives asecond data transmission in the data region on a second reception beam,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive thedata transmission in the control region on the first reception beam. 20.The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the indication indicates a startingsymbol for the data transmission, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to: determining whether the starting symbol is withinthe control region; using a reduced MCS or a reduced rank to receive thedata transmission, when the starting symbol is within the controlregion; and using a second MCS for data transmission in the data region,when the starting symbol is within the data region.
 21. A method ofwireless communication at a base station, comprising: transmittingcommunication to a user equipment (UE) in a control region and a dataregion of a slot; and transmitting an indication to the UE regarding adata transmission in the control region, wherein the data transmissionin the control region overlaps a control transmission in time, andwherein the indication indicates a different modulation and codingscheme (MCS) or a different rank for the data transmission in thecontrol region.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the indicationindicates a reduced MCS or a reduced rank for the data transmission inthe control region.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the indicationindicates an MCS difference for the MCS for the data transmission in thecontrol region in comparison to a second MCS for a second datatransmission in the data region.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein theindication indicates a Transmission Power Ratio (TPR) difference betweena first TPR for the data transmission in the control region and a secondTPR for a second data transmission in the data region.
 25. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the indication indicates a rank difference for thedata transmission in the control region in comparison to a second rankfor a second data transmission in the data region.
 26. The method ofclaim 21, further comprising: receiving a channel quality indication forreceiving data in the control region from the UE; and determining areduced MCS or a reduced rank for the data transmission in the controlregion based on the received channel quality indicator.
 27. The methodof claim 21, wherein the indication provides information to the UE forat least one of rate matching for the data transmission in the controlregion using an updated MCS and demodulation of the data transmission inthe control region using the updated MCS.
 28. The method of claim 21,wherein the indication is transmitted as at least one of Radio ResourceControl (RRC) signaling, a Medium Access Control (MAC) control element,or downlink control information (DCI).
 29. The method of claim 21,wherein the indication indicates that there is no data transmission inthe control region.
 30. The method of claim 21, wherein the indicationindicates a control span for a group of multiple UEs, wherein thecontrol span comprises resources configured as the control region forany of the multiple UEs in the group of multiple UEs.
 31. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the indication indicates a starting symbol for thedata transmission.
 32. An apparatus for wireless communication at a basestation, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to thememory and configured to: transmit communication to a user equipment(UE) in a control region and a data region of a slot; and transmit anindication to the UE regarding a data transmission in the controlregion, wherein the data transmission in the control region overlaps acontrol transmission in time, and wherein the indication indicates adifferent modulation and coding scheme (MCS) or a different rank for thedata transmission in the control region.